Rowers from Around the Nation to Converge in Tampa for the 5th Annual Tampa Mayor’s Cup Regatta

Mar 14, 2012

TAMPA, Fla. - The 5th Annual
Tampa Mayor’s Cup Regatta, one of the pre-eminent early
season rowing events featuring many top crews and athletes from
around the country, will take place Saturday, March 17, at Tampa
Bypass Canal. Since the inaugural event in 2008, The Tampa
Mayor’s Cup Regatta has become a key event for the many top
universities training in Florida during their spring breaks.

“While Tampa has long been home to spring training for
many top universities and Olympic crews, this spectator-oriented
event presents a great opportunity for the community to witness
competition at the highest level,” commented Tom Feaster,
President of The Steward’s Foundation and member of the Board
of Directors of United States Rowing Association.

Feaster continued, “With the venue at the Tampa Bypass
Canal, there will be numerous great vantage points at Harney Park
for spectators to bring lawn chairs and blankets to just enjoy our
March weather while watching the races with friends and
family.”

Spectators will be treated to some serious competition,
according to Don Vickers, Regatta Director. This year’s event
has attracted 249 entries from 39 rowing organizations. They
include more than 750 athletes from 24 cities, six states, and two
countries.

The 2011 champion, Hamilton College from upstate New York, will
defend its title against schools that include Colgate University,
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Saint Lawrence
University. Hamilton will also receive tough in-state competition
from the University of Tampa, Stetson University, Florida State
University and the University of South Florida.

The day-long regatta begins at 7:30 a.m. and will include
championship events for both high school men and women and
masters’ men and women, in addition to the collegiate events.
Junior entries from Tampa include The Stewards Foundation, Tampa
Training Center, Tampa Prep, Berkeley Prep, Tampa Catholic and the
Academy of Holy Names. These youngsters will match blades with The
Sarasota Scullers, Sarasota Crew, Boone High School, Orlando,
Bishop Newman, University School, Cape Coral, Citrus County, and
The Miami Rowing Club.

There will also be a record 18 rowing clubs from as far north as
Narragansett, Rhode Island featured in the Masters Competition.
This year’s regatta will highlight the second annual Veterans
Masters Singles event named in honor of Admiral Lee Roy Collins.
Admiral Collins was a long-time regatta participant for The Tampa
Rowing Club, who died in a bicycling accident on his way to rowing
practice in 2010.

“Tampa is such a popular rowing venue with both
competitors and spectators that the Tampa Mayor’s Cup Regatta
could easily become one of the most popular events in the
U.S,” noted Vickers.

Vickers is not alone however in promoting the venue. The Tampa
Bay Sports Commission, The City of Tampa, Ken Walters Productions
and Tampa Bay & Company have all provided significant support.
Ken Walters and Jim Lonigro, Event Promotional Managers, have
arranged for a series of “Promotional Gifts” from
several companies including:

These Promotional Gifts will be given away once the event begins
and will go on throughout the day. So come early and stay
late for a chance to win, while supporting the valuable work being
done by The Steward’s Foundation.

While the race is free for spectators, sponsorship proceeds go
to The Stewards Foundation, which supports youth programs and is
open to any high school student who has no access to a high school
program at his/her school, as well as to inner-city summer youth
programs coordinated through the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation
Department.

Denny Antram, Vice President and Visiting Team Coordinator for
The Steward’s Foundation, stated, “Collectively, these
programs have made available an elite athletic sport, numerous
scholarship opportunities and the principles of teamwork and
responsibility to a host of our of community’s youngsters and
economically disadvantaged students.”

Feaster added, “With the support and encouragement of
Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who will be attending the event, The
Steward’s Foundation and The City of Tampa are committed to
the efforts to make this sport more accessible to the kids in our
community and we are proud to host many of rowing’s most
talented young athletes in Tampa.”